Ahead of the opening of the International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich, Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), is calling for significant relief for the automotive sector.
Speaking on the Berlin Playbook podcast by POLITICO, Müller emphasized that holding automakers accountable for the lack of adoption of electric vehicles is counterproductive when electricity grids are inadequate and consumers are unable to charge their vehicles.
While Müller did not directly challenge the planned ban on the registration of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, she highlighted the crucial need for adjustments to fleet emission targets imposed by the European Union. She explained that the 2019 agreement on these targets was predicated on the assumption that simply producing high-quality vehicles would be sufficient.
“That alone doesn’t convince consumers if energy prices are too high or if there are no charging stations available” Müller stated.
She also expressed support for ongoing efforts by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to ensure Germany remains a leading force in the automotive industry.